Wire-stretcher.



No. 642,874. Patented Jan. 30, I900. B. C. BULON.

WIRE STBETGHEB.

(Application filed Feb. 17, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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WITNESSES //V VENTOH ATTORNEY.

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ROBERT C. BOLON, OF LINEVILLE, IO\VA.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,074, dated January 30, 1900.

Application filed February 17,1899. Serial No. 705,943. (No model.)

To (NZ lulu/no 1 1' may COILGQII'L:

Be it known that I, ROBERT CHARLES BO- LON, residing at Lineville, in the county of lVayne and State of Iowa, have invented certain useful Improvements in lVire-S tretchers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has relation to an improvement in wire-stretchers.

The aim of my invention is to provide a handy tool adapted to be used in tightening fence-wire in securing the strands to the post, as well as being adapted to bring the ends of a broken strand together in splicing the same, as will be described more fully hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings 1 have shown in Figure l atop view of a wire-stretcher embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view with portions broken away, disclosing the arrangement of the grippers at one end of the tool. Fig. 3 shows a view, partly in section and with portions broken away, of the tool, disclosing the swivel-head, while Fig. 4 shows a bottom View of the holder as used in my invention.

My invention embodies, essentially, an approximately J-shaped holder, to the curved end of which is pivotally secured a swivelhead provided with a pivoted lever, while the upper end of the holder is provided with two grippers, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The holder A, which, as has been stated, is J-shaped, may be of any suitable size and material and approximately centrallyis provided with an upwardly-extending curved keeper 12, which keeper extends in one direction, while to the curved end of the holder upon the opposite side is positioned the hook 20, as is shown in Fig. 3. Extending upward from the straight end of the holder and in the same direction with the keeper 1:? is a rib 7, passing upward a suitable distance. Upon the end marked 3 of this head is secured, by means of a pivot 6, a gripper in the form of a lever 8, the curved jaw 9 of which is adapted to bind upon the rib 7 and so impinge and hold upon this rib 7 and strand that may be passed between the same, as is shown at min Fig. 1. Upon the side opposite this rib7 and secured to the end marked 4 of the head is a second gripper 11, secured by means of the pivot 5 and provided with the jaw 10, also adapted to work against the rib 7. Secured to the curved end and upon the same side provided with the keeper 12 is a swivel-head 14:, secured by means of the pin 13, and this swivel-head is provided with an upwardlyextending nosing 15. Pivoted adjacent to this nosing upon the swivelfhead by means of the pivot 16 is a tension-lever 17, the gripping end 18 of which is adapted to bind upon the extending nosing 15, so that the wire to be stretched or spliced may be securely fastened between this tension-lever 17 and the nosing 15. This tension-lever 17 may then be carried in a radial path by virtue of the swivelhead 14.

In referring to Fig. 1 the wire 00 is being secured to the post Z, and in the operation the wire a; is first gripped by the gripper 8. Then the swivel-head 14 is carried toward the end to which the wire to be tightened is secured, when the lever 17 is forced upon the wire and gradually carried toward the curved end, which movement carries the wire 00 forward in tightening the same, and this forward movement also automatically releases the gripper 8. As soon as this lever 17 has been carried forward as far as the movement will permit and to prevent the wire 00 springing backward the operator again throws the gripper 8 into contact with the wire to hold the same while drawing back the lever 17 in order to get a new hold upon this wire as. The holder A of course is anchored and is simply held against the post to which the wire is to be secured, as is shown in Fig. 1. The keeper 12 aids in preventing the wire from springing off of the holder A.

In the use of my device the operator as a rule grasps my wire-tightener with his right hand, engaging the main lever 17, while with his left hand is operated the gripper 8. Should it be desired to splice two fence-wires, one wire is brought between the nose of the holder 11 and against the rib 7, so that the holder A will be supported by the Wire and the gripper 11, the other Wire to be secured entering as is shown in the drawings. The wire passing under the gripper 11, in this instance going from the direction of the post, acts to receive the strain, while the wire at is fed forward, as in the previous instance. To further facilitate the holding of this lever upon the Wire when the splice is made, I provide the extending hook 20, as is shown in Fig. 3.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is-

In a wire-stretcher the combination of the following instrumentalities, to wit: the approximately J -shaped holder A provided centrally with the upwardly-extending curved keeper 12, upon one side, and with the hook 20 upon the opposite side, a rib 7 extending in the same direction with the keeper 12, the

' gripper 8 pivotally secured to said holder, said gripper being adapted to bind upon said rib, the second gripper 11 secured by means of the pivot 5 upon the side opposite to the rib 7, said gripper 11 also being adapted to Work against said rib 7, the swivel-head 14 secured by means of the pin 13 adjacent to said keeper 12, said swivel-head being provided with the nosing 15, and the tension-lever 17 secured by means of the pivot 16, said tension-lever being adapted to bind upon the extending nosing 15, all arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

Signed in the presence of two Witnesses.

ROBERT C. BOLON.

Witnesses:

GEORGE W. HUTCHINSON, ROBERT E. MALLEsToN. 

